Making Prints
I’ve been thinking about how to start printing without a huge enlarger and in not that much space. While there is the possibility of expanding and making room for something better, for now either contact prints or the Intrepid Enlarger might be it.
Contact Prints
Contact prints lend themselves to the larger formats, which I’m getting more interested in, which is a bonus. That said, 4x5 (or 5x4, I can never remember which) is small for this. Later this may lead to a 5x7 (or 8x10), but for now I think the solution is postcards, partly inspired by Andrew Bartram.
4x5 on a 4x6 postcard leaves a little ugliness around the edge, but for the right photo I think it can work, especially if the edging gets printed to black. These could likely be daylight developed in the tank I already have, but trays I think are better for learning.
However away from the now non-existent Azo/gaslight paper, this still requires an enlarger to throw the light. That said a 35mm one would do at that point.
Enlarger
The alternative is using the large format camera I have as an enlarger. This has the advantage of making enlargements, not requiring much in the way of volume of stuff. It is likely to be cheaper that a large format enlarger (and even perhaps a 35mm one). It also satisfies the ability to contact print, as well as enlarge smaller formats.
A plan
Either way there’s a few things to think about first:
- Where I can setup (I.e. where can be made dark).
- What kit is needed (and what it’ll cost).
- Where it will go when not in use.
So step 1 to think about those. Once I have some answers comes up with a minimal set of things to do/buy and start from there. In a show of synchronicity the following article appeared recently how to build a darkroom for £100 or less, based on a 35mm enlarger, which are cheaper than I thought. This article and series should help in the working out the what I need, and possibly which option to go for. Space will still remain the other deciding issue I imagine.